U.S. patent application number 11/789168 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for outboard motor.
This patent application is currently assigned to Honda Motor Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Makoto Yazaki.
Application Number | 20070251490 11/789168 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38647145 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070251490 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yazaki; Makoto |
November 1, 2007 |
Outboard motor
Abstract
An outboard motor having a grommet mounted on a lower cover is
disclosed. The grommet is positioned outward from an area directly
under a surface in which an upper cover and lower cover meet as
viewed from above. A presser cover for pressing the upper half of
the grommet expands in the lateral direction and has on the lower
end portion a first concavity that opens in the downward direction
and conforms to the external shape of the grommet.
Inventors: |
Yazaki; Makoto; (Saitama,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARRIER BLACKMAN AND ASSOCIATES
24101 NOVI ROAD, SUITE 100
NOVI
MI
48375
US
|
Assignee: |
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
38647145 |
Appl. No.: |
11/789168 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
123/198E |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02D 11/02 20130101;
F02F 7/0065 20130101; F02B 61/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
123/198.E |
International
Class: |
F02M 35/02 20060101
F02M035/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 1, 2006 |
JP |
2006-127647 |
Claims
1. An outboard motor comprising: an engine; an engine cover
comprised of an upper cover and a lower cover that define an engine
compartment for accommodating the engine; cable introduction
portions disposed in the lower cover; and a grommet for sealing the
cable introduction portions, wherein the grommet is positioned
outward from an area directly under a surface in which the upper
cover and lower cover meet as viewed top plan, and a presser cover
for pressing an upper half of the grommet expands in a lateral
direction and has on a lower end portion a first concavity opening
in a downward direction and conforms to an external shape of the
grommet.
2. The outboard motor of claim 1, wherein the lower cover has a
notched concavity formed to accommodate the presser cover, and a
second concavity opened in an upward direction so as to sandwich
the grommet against the first concavity.
3. The outboard motor of claim 2, wherein the lower cover is
comprised of left and right cover halves, and the second concavity
of the lower cover is comprised of a receiver arm disposed on one
side of a front bracket that links a space between the upper
portion of the right and left cover halves.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an outboard motor and, more
particularly, to an improved engine cover structure that seals and
covers the opening for introducing cables and the like into an
engine compartment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In an outboard motor, an engine compartment that
accommodates an engine is partitioned by a lower cover and an upper
cover that constitute an engine cover. JP 2004-338464 A1 discloses
a structure in which engine control cables, power supply cables,
electric signal transmission cables, operation cables, and various
other cables are introduced into the engine compartment.
[0003] In the arrangement of JP 2004-338464 A1, a concave notch is
formed in an upper front portion of a lower cover, a cable
introduction cover is mounted over the notch, and the two are
joined together.
[0004] The cable introduction cover has an introduction hole in the
front surface. A cylindrical rubber grommet is inserted in the
introduction hole, and the cables are brought together and held in
the grommet, whereby the cables are sealed.
[0005] The outboard motor has a notch formed in the lower cover,
and a cable introduction cover through which a grommet is inserted
and held is disposed on and integrated with the lower cover. The
grommet is used for bringing together and holding cables 56 in the
notch. Therefore, the grommet and the cables held by the grommet
are disposed further below the lower edge of the upper cover
mounted on the lower cover. Therefore, the grommet, which is a seal
member, and cables are restricted by peripheral equipment, cable
installation, wiring, and other factors in the engine
compartment.
[0006] It is furthermore difficult to assure installation space for
a connecting rod that is used when a plurality of outboard motors
is mounted on the stem and the boat glides on water.
[0007] In view of the above, the preferred structure in an outboard
motor is one in which the top surface of the grommet is positioned
further above the lower edge of the upper cover and a large space
is assured below the grommet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an outboard motor which comprises an engine; an engine
cover comprised of an upper cover and a lower cover that define an
engine compartment for accommodating the engine; cable introduction
portions disposed in the lower cover; and a grommet for sealing the
cable introduction portions, wherein the grommet is positioned
outward from an area directly under a surface in which the upper
cover and lower cover meet as viewed in top plan, and a presser
cover for pressing the upper half of the grommet expands in a
lateral direction and has on a lower end portion a first concavity
opening in a downward direction and conforms to an external shape
of the grommet.
[0009] First, the grommet is disposed outward from the area
directly under the surface in which the upper cover and lower cover
meet as viewed from above, whereby the degree of freedom for
positioning the grommet in relation to the engine cover is
improved, and the grommet can be disposed above the lower edge of
the upper cover. Furthermore, the presser cover, which presses the
upper half of the grommet, expands in the lateral direction, and
has on the lower end portion a first concavity that opens in the
downward direction and conforms to the external shape of the
grommet, whereby the position of the upper half of the grommet can
be set high in a first concavity when the grommet is pressed and
held by the presser cover, and the top surface of the grommet can
be positioned above the lower edge of the upper cover. Therefore,
the installation position of the cables bundled and held together
by the grommet in the engine compartment can be made higher and the
degree of freedom of wiring inside the engine compartment can be
improved. Space below the grommet can be assured and installation
space for a connection rod can easily be provided when a plurality
of outboard motors is disposed in parallel.
[0010] Preferably, the lower cover has a notched concavity formed
to accommodate the presser cover, while the lower cover have a
second concavity opened in the upward direction in order to
sandwich the grommet against the first concavity. As a result, the
grommet is reliably held by a circular hole formed by a first
concavity and a second concavity.
[0011] Desirably, the lower cover is comprised of left and right
cover halves, while the second concavity of the lower cover is
comprised of a receiver arm disposed on one side of a front bracket
that links the space between the upper portion of the right and
left cover halves. Therefore, a second concavity for directly
supporting the lower half of the grommet does not need to be
provided to the lower cover, and the structure of the lower cover
can be simplified. Furthermore, the support surface that receives
the lower half of the grommet can be increased, and the grommet can
be more reliably held in place.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of the outboard engine according to
the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the outboard engine shown in FIG.
1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lower cover
shown in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the area around the rear
bracket shown in FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the right cover half,
grommets, and front bracket of the lower cover shown in FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front bracket shown in
FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state in which the front
bracket and grommets have been mounted on the lower cover;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a view as seen in the direction of arrow 8 of FIG.
7, showing in front elevation the state in which the grommets have
been mounted;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a view as seen in the direction of arrow 9 of FIG.
7, showing in side elevation the state in which the grommets have
been mounted; and
[0022] FIG. 10 is a view showing a state in which two outboard
motors are mounted in parallel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an outboard engine 1 has an
engine 2 covered by an engine cover 3.
[0024] The engine cover 3 is composed of an upper cover 4 that
covers the upper portion of the engine 2, and a lower cover 5 that
covers the lower portion of the engine 2. An engine compartment 6
is partitioned by the upper and lower covers 4 and 5.
[0025] The engine 2 is a multi-cylinder four-stroke engine provided
with substantially horizontally moving pistons and a vertically
disposed crankshaft. The engine 2 is provided with a cylinder block
7, a cylinder head 8 disposed in the rear portion of the cylinder
block 7, and a crankcase 9 disposed in the front portion of the
cylinder block 7. The cylinder block 7 has a plurality of cylinders
7a. The cylinder head 8 has a plurality of combustion chambers 8a
corresponding to the cylinders 7a. The reference numeral 8b is a
camshaft. The crankcase 9 houses a vertically disposed crankshaft
9a.
[0026] An intake silencer 10 is disposed from the front portion of
the right side of the crankcase 9 across the forward portion. A
power generator (ACG) 11 is disposed above the engine 2.
[0027] The engine 2 is supported by a mounting case 12. The
reference numeral 12a is an oil pan.
[0028] A crankshaft 9a is connected to a downwardly suspended drive
shaft 13. The drive shaft 13 passes through the inside of an
extension case 14 that is disposed below the bottom cover 5, and is
connected to a gear transmission mechanism 15a inside a gear case
15 that is mounted on the lower end of the extension case 14.
[0029] The gear transmission mechanism 15a transmits the drive
force of the drive shaft 13 to a horizontal driven shaft 15b. The
rear end portion of the horizontal driven shaft 15b protrudes
rearward from the gear case 15. A propeller 16 is mounted on the
rear end portion of the horizontal driven shaft 15b. The propeller
16 is driven by the motive force of the engine 2. The outboard
motor 1 produces forward or rearward propulsion by switching the
direction of the propeller 16 with the aid of a pair of dog
clutches.
[0030] A stem bracket 17 for mounting the outboard motor 1 on the
stem is mounted on the front of the outboard motor 1 by way of a
swivel case 18. The swivel case 18 is supported by mounting rubbers
18a and 18b.
[0031] Exhaust directed downward from the cylinder head 8 passes
through a main exhaust channel 12d (FIG. 3) formed in the mounting
case 12 and a main exhaust pipe 19a disposed downstream from the
main exhaust channel 12d; subsequently passes through the interior
of the lower cover 5, the extension case 14, and the gear case 15;
and is then exhausted from the center of the propeller 16 into the
water, as indicated by the arrow a.
[0032] A portion of the exhaust passes through a sub-exhaust pipe
19b adjacent to the primary exhaust pipe 19a, and is exhausted in
the rearward direction of the outboard motor 1 as indicated by the
arrow b.
[0033] A water test port 20 for visually confirming whether cooling
water is flowing to the engine cooling unit is formed in the lower
cover 5, and a portion of the cooling water is discharged in the
rearward direction of the outboard motor 1.
[0034] An ignition plug 50 can be serviced by opening and closing a
lid 51a that covers a notched portion 51 formed in the right cover
half 32 (FIG. 2) of the lower cover 5 and removing and inserting
the ignition plug.
[0035] The upper cover 4 is a resin molded article. The lower cover
5 is composed of divided left and right cover halves 31 and 32, and
is a resin molded article. The left and right cover halves 31 and
32 are brought together and joined.
[0036] The structure of the lower cover 5 is described below with
reference to FIG. 3.
[0037] The upper halves 31a and 32a of the left and right cover
halves 31 and 32 are longer in the forward and rearward direction
than the lower halves 31b and 32b. In other words, the front
portions 31d and 32d of the upper halves 31a and 32a extend further
in the forward direction than do the front portions 31c and 35c of
the lower halves 31b and 32b.
[0038] The left and right cover halves 31 and 32 have an engaging
groove portion 31e (in the diagram, the engaging groove portion of
the right cover half 32 is hidden and cannot be seen) formed with
bilateral symmetry at substantially the border between the upper
halves 31a and 32a and the lower halves 31b and 32b on the inner
surface of the left and right cover halves. When the left and right
cover halves 31 and 32 are brought together and joined, a seal
member 12g mounted around a flange portion 12f of the mounting case
12 is fitted into the engaging groove portion 31e to seal the space
between the cover halves 31 and 32 and the mounting case.
[0039] The mounting case 12 is provided with a drive shaft vertical
through-hole 12c, a hole 12b though which a shift rod inside a
swivel shaft vertically passes, an engine-mounting flange 12e, an
oil return aperture in an oil pan 12a, and a primary exhaust
channel 7d.
[0040] The front bracket that connects the upper space between the
left and right cover halves, the grommet that holds and seals the
cables, and the presser cover body are described later.
[0041] Notched longitudinal engaging concave portions 31g and 32g
are formed in the upper half of the rear portions 31f and 32f of
the left and right cover halves 31 and 32. Mounting bosses 31h and
32h are disposed in the upper portions of the engaging concave
portions 31g and 32g. The mounting bosses 31h and 32h have mounting
holes 31i and 32i.
[0042] The upper rear portions of the left and right cover halves
31 and 32 are mounted on the engine side by way of a rear bracket
23. The sub-exhaust pipe 19b and a pipe 20a of the water test port
20 are positioned inside the lower cover 5.
[0043] The rear bracket 23 has a U-shaped flat main body 24, as
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The flat main body 24 is exposed in the
center portion of the rear surface of the lower cover 5. Support
arms 24a and 24a curved in the form of a dogleg to the left and
right are disposed inside the flat main body 24. The support arms
24a and 24a are fixed with the aid of bolts 25 and 25 to mounting
eyes 8b and 8b, which are formed so as to protrude to the left and
right of the cylinder head 8.
[0044] In the example shown in the diagram, the rear bracket 23 is
mounted on the engine side, but the rear bracket may be mounted on
the rear surface of the mounting case 12.
[0045] Concave grooves 31j and 32j are formed to the left and right
of the main body 24 of the rear bracket 23. The edges of the
engaging concave portions 31g and 32g of the left and right cover
halves 31 and 32 are fitted into the concave grooves 31j and
32j.
[0046] Erect pieces 24b and 24b are disposed to the left and right
on the upper portion of the rear bracket 23. Nuts, which are not
shown, are embedded in the erect pieces 24b and 24b. The left and
right mounting bosses 31h and 32h, which are disposed in protruding
fashion in the vicinity of the joined portion of the left and right
cover halves 31 and 32, are superimposed on the left and right
erect pieces 24b and 24b, and bolts 26 and 26 are inserted by way
of the mounting holes 31i and 32i and are screwed into the embedded
nuts of the erect pieces 24b and 24b. The joined portion of the
left and right cover halves 31 and 32 is thereby connected to the
rear bracket 23.
[0047] A mounting hole 24c bored into the lower end of the bracket
main body 24, and a mounting hole 31k formed in the lower portion
of the engaging concave portions 31g and 32g (see FIG. 3; the right
cover half 32 also has a mounting hole in the same manner, but the
mounting hole is not visible in the diagram) are superimposed onto
each other, and a decorative bolt is inserted and screwed into a
nut 24d (see FIG. 3) disposed inside the main body 24 to connect
the assembly.
[0048] Therefore, the component exposed behind the upper cover 4
and lower cover 5 is only the main body 24 of the rear bracket 23.
The portions mounted on the engine 2, the portions mounted on the
rear bracket 23 of the left and right cover halves 31 and 32, and
other mounted portions are hidden by the covers.
[0049] In FIG. 4, an operation arm 27 is pivotably mounted on the
rear bracket 23. The operation arm 27 has an inverted U-shaped
latch post 27a. The latch post 27a engages a hook 2b when operated
by a handle 27b, and locks the closed state of the upper cover 4
against the lower cover 5. The hook 2b is disposed on the upper
cover 4.
[0050] The cover halves 31 and 32 have holding portions 31r and
32r, as shown in FIG. 3, and are held by an engine-side holder (not
shown).
[0051] The sub-exhaust pipe 19b opens on the rear surface of the
rear bracket 23. The water test port 20 also opens on the rear
surface of the rear bracket 23 in the same manner. The sub-exhaust
pipe 19b leads to a sub-exhaust channel 12h (FIG. 4) formed in the
mounting case 12.
[0052] The mounting structure of the front bracket 43 for
connecting the upper front portions of the left and right cover
halves 31 and 32, the presser cover 38, and the grommet 42 that
brings the cables together are described next with reference to
FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5 to 9.
[0053] The upper edge of the front portion 32d of the upper half
portion 32a of the right cover half 32 has a lower profile so as to
accommodate the presser cover 38, and forms a concave conduit
portion 36 that extends in the forward and rearward directions.
[0054] A side wall 36a of the conduit portion 36 is curved, opens
in the rearward direction in the form of a half cylinder, and has a
shape that expands in the lateral direction.
[0055] The upper edge of the conduit portion 36 has a narrow shelf
portion 36b that is curved inward, and an erect rim 36c that stands
erect at the inner edge of the shelf portion 36b. The rear end of
the conduit portion 36 is L-shaped as viewed from the side. The
upper edge of the rear end portion continues to a shelf surface
32m, which is a joining surface between the right cover half 32 and
the lower edge of the upper cover 4. The shelf surface 32m has an
erect rim 32n that stands erect at the inner edge of the shelf
surface 32m. The erect rim 32n is in contact with the inner surface
of the lower end of the upper cover 4.
[0056] An extended bottom piece 36d that extends inward is formed
on the lower surface of the front portion of the conduit portion
36, and a mounting hole 36e is provided in the base portion of the
extended bottom piece 36d.
[0057] A plate-shaped support portion 37, which internally houses a
nut 37a, is disposed on the front end of the upper half portion 32a
behind the conduit portion 36 of the right cover half 32.
[0058] The presser cover 38 has an integrally formed expanding
portion 39 that expands outward to the side of the cover main body
38a extending in the forward and rearward directions. The front
portion 38b of the cover main body 38a is curved inward, as shown
in FIG. 8. The front end 38c is substantially flat in the same
manner as the front surface of the engine cover of the outboard
motor.
[0059] The front portion 39a of the expanding portion 39 protrudes
considerably outward as viewed from above, and the side portion 39b
merges with the rear portion of the cover main body 38a while
gradually expanding in the rearward direction. The cover main body
38a of the presser cover 38 has a shelf surface 38d on the upper
end thereof. The shelf surface 38d has an erect rim 38e that stands
erect at the inner edge thereof. The shelf surface 38d and erect
rim 38e conform to the shelf surface 32m and the erect rim 35n.
[0060] Mounting eyes 40, 40 in which mounting holes 40a, 40a are
respectively formed are provided in the forward and rearward end
portions of the erect rim 38e.
[0061] A semicircular open portion 41 is formed in the front
portion 39a of the expanding portion 39. The semicircular open
portion 41 has a shape that conforms to the upper half portion of
the grommet 42 shown in FIG. 5.
[0062] The grommet 42 is composed of rubber, synthetic rubber, or
another sealing material, and the overall shape is a cylindrical
shape that is long in the forward and rearward directions. The
grommet 42 has a plurality of cable insertion holes 42a composed of
round and square holes that pass completely through the grommet in
the axial direction. A plurality of seal lips 42b is provided in
protruding fashion in the form of a ring in the external peripheral
portion of the grommet 42. The grommet 42 provides support so that
cables can be brought in and out of the engine compartment by way
of the cable insertion holes 42a. Examples of the cables include an
engine control cable for opening and closing a throttle valve, a
drive control cable for switching between forward and rearward
propulsion, a power supply cable, signal transmission cables, and a
fuel supply tube.
[0063] The front bracket 43 has an insertion hole 43b for a swivel
shaft formed in a bracket main body 43a in the form of a shelf
board, and a power cord insertion hole 43c for a hydraulic tilt and
trim cylinder device, as shown in FIG. 6.
[0064] The bracket main body 43a has an erect wall 43d that is
curved as viewed from above and is formed in the front end of the
bracket main body. An operation arm 21 for engaging and locking the
upper and lower covers 4 and 5 (FIG. 1) is supported on a support
shaft 43e mounted on the front portion of the erect wall 43d. A
handle 21a of the operation arm 21 is pivotably mounted on the
support shaft 43e. An inverted U-shaped lock post 21b interlocks
with a pawl 2a disposed on the lower portion of the center portion
of the upper cover 4 (FIG. 1) by operating the handle 21a, and
locks the upper cover 4 and lower cover 5.
[0065] A receiver arm 44 that supports the lower half portion of
the grommet 42 extends from the right side of the front bracket 43.
The receiver arm 44 has a semicircular upward-facing concave
portion 44a as viewed from the front. The semicircular concave
portion 44a has a shape that conforms to the lower half portion of
the grommet 42. The inner surface of the receiver arm 44 has a
plurality of grooves 44b set at a distance from each other in the
axial direction.
[0066] The receiver arm 44 has a mounting hole 44c formed in the
outer end rear portion of the receiver arm. A mounting hole 44d is
formed in the outward portion of the bracket main body 43a in the
base portion side of the receiver arm 44.
[0067] The bracket main body 43a has a substantially triangular rib
wall 43f formed in the rear portion of the right side of the
bracket main body. A mounting screw hole 43g that faces in the
width direction of the outboard motor is formed in the rib wall
43f.
[0068] A mounting portion 43h curved in the rearward direction is
formed in the right-side end portion of the erect wall 43d of the
front bracket 43. The mounting portion 43h has a screw hole.
[0069] The front bracket 43 is mounted in the space between the
upper portions of the front surfaces of the left and right cover
halves 31 and 32, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0070] The outer end portion of the receiver arm 44 is mounted on
the conduit portion 36 by inserting a stepped bolt 60 into the
mounting hole 44c and the mounting hole 36e formed in the conduit
portion 36 of the right cover half 32, and screwing the stepped
bolt 60 into the nut 39c disposed in the expanding portion 39 of
the presser cover 38 that has been placed on the conduit portion
36. The base portion of the receiver arm 44 is mounted on the
presser cover 38 by inserting a stepped bolt 61 into the mounting
hole 44d and the mounting hole 40a formed in the front mounting
portion 40 of the presser cover 38, and tightening the bolt.
[0071] The rear end portion of the presser cover 38 is mounted on
the right cover half 32 by inserting a bolt 62 into the mounting
hole 40a of the front mounting portion 40, and screwing the bolt 62
into a nut 37a of the support portion 37 of the right cover half
32. A bolt 63 is furthermore inserted into a through-hole 35p (FIG.
7) provided in the lower front portion of the right cover half 32,
the bolt 63 is screwed into the mounting screw hole 43g formed in
the rib wall 43f of the front bracket 43, and the right cover half
32 and the front bracket 43 are fastened together.
[0072] The front bracket 43 also has a rib wall 43i on the side
opposite of the rib wall 43f, as shown in FIG. 7. The rib wall 43i
is fastened with the aid of a bolt 64 to the mounting portion 31q
provided in the left cover half 31. The mounting portion 43h of the
front bracket 43 is mounted with the aid of a bolt 65 to the
mounting portion 31p formed in the upper portion of the left cover
half 31.
[0073] In this manner, the left and right cover halves 31 and 32
are connected by way of the front bracket 43. When the presser
cover 38 is mounted on the receiver arm 44 of the front bracket 43,
a circular hole is formed that sandwiches the grommet 42 between
the semicircular open portion 41 of the presser cover 38 and the
semicircular concave portion 44a of the receiver arm 44.
[0074] The grommet 42 has a plurality of seal lips 42b in the form
of a ring disposed in protruding fashion on the external periphery
of the grommet. The seal lips 42b engage a plurality of
semicircular grooves 44b formed in the receiver arm 44, the grommet
42 is reliably held by the presser cover 38 and the front bracket
43, and exceptional sealing characteristics can be provided by the
plurality of seal lips 42b and the plurality of grooves 44b.
[0075] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the grommet 42 is positioned
outward from the area directly under the surface in which the upper
cover and lower cover meet as viewed from above. The upper surface
of the grommet 42 is essentially positioned on the upper edge, as
indicated by the reference symbol A, of the right cover half 32 of
the lower cover 5 that is in contact with the lower edge of the
upper cover 4, i.e., is essentially positioned on the shelf surface
38d of the presser cover 38, which is in the same plane as the
upper edge A.
[0076] Therefore, a large space can be secured below the grommet 42
because the upper surface of the grommet 42 is positioned above the
lower edge of the upper cover 4.
[0077] For this reason, a plurality of outboard motors, e.g., two
outboard motors 1 and 1, can be connected by a connecting rod 70
when the motors are disposed in parallel as shown in FIG. 10. The
connecting portion 71 of the connecting rod 70 is positioned below
the grommet 42 of one of the outboard motors 1, and the grommet 42
is positioned above the lower cover 5 as described above.
Therefore, the degree of freedom in disposing the connecting
portion 71 of the connecting rod 70 is improved. The options for
selecting a commercially-available connecting device are thereby
increased, and since a space is obtained below the grommet 42, the
work for connecting a plurality of outboard motors is facilitated,
and the degree of freedom for laying out, disposing, or otherwise
positioning cables is further improved.
[0078] Obviously, various minor changes and modifications of the
present invention are possible in light of the above teaching. It
is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described.
* * * * *